Leesley Sandoval, a 23-year-old woman from Aurora, Illinois, was found dead on September 27, 2020, in what authorities have identified as a murder-suicide. Sandoval, who was of Hispanic descent, was discovered alongside Christian Coronel, a 24-year-old man, in their apartment located in the 1600 block of McClure Road. The tragic incident came to light when Aurora police conducted a welfare check at the apartment around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, September 28, 2020, after a relative reported being unable to reach anyone there throughout the day. Upon entering the apartment with the help of the landlord, officers found both Sandoval and Coronel dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
Investigations revealed that Christian Coronel, also of Hispanic descent, was the primary suspect in the incident. Preliminary information indicated that Coronel shot and killed Sandoval before turning the gun on himself. This conclusion was supported by a neighbor's account, who reported hearing gunshots around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, but did not notify the police at the time. The Kane County Coroner's Office conducted autopsies to confirm the cause and manner of death, which were consistent with the initial findings of gunshot wounds.
The case was classified as a domestic incident, and no further arrests or suspects were identified beyond Coronel. The Aurora Police Department's Investigations Division continued to look into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, urging anyone with additional information to come forward. The incident highlighted the tragic consequences of domestic violence and the importance of timely intervention and support for those in potentially dangerous situations.
